Rebecca Synder serves Jewell County as a physicians assistant

Rebecca Snyder, a physicians' assistant at Jewell County Rural Health Clinic, has been practicing medicine since 1999. Even though she lives in Wichita, Snyder is usually in the clinic Friday through Monday, although her schedule does vary. Snyder has an apartment in Mankato she stays in on her scheduled days. Snyder chose to work in Jewell County because her husband had family in Belleville and Jewell County was familiar to her.

Snyder went to school first at Saint Mary's in Dodge City where she graduated with an accounting degree. She then went to Wichita State University where she received her physicians' assistant degree.

When Snyder started work after getting her accounting degree, she found out it wasn't really her "cup of tea." Snyder has been an athlete and has been involved with orthopedics. Her sister is an occupational therapist and told Snyder about the physicians assistant program. "I looked into it and I thought "that sounds more like me."

Snyder is married and has two bonus children, a bonus grandbaby and three bonus grandfurbabies. She enjoys weightlifting, reading science fiction and multigenerational books, going to the beach and swimming.

Snyder said if she could retire tomorrow, she would live part time in Wichita and then would travel to different beaches. She doesn't have any set date for stopping practicing medicine. "I'm young and I'm healthy and my life is pretty good right now so I don't have any foreseeable change," Snyder said.

Snyder is inspired by the feeling of community and family. She is also inspired by getting to know people and figuring out who they are because you don't judge a book by it's cover. "It's interesting to dig a little and find some really amazing people and stories," Snyder said. "They're always in places you don't think they're going to be."

Snyder would like the community to know she appreciates their friendliness, their flexibility and them allowing her in their lives. "Even though I'm not here full time and I can't take care of them every day, I appreciate everybody who will let me help them and I am here for them," Snyder said.

When faced with a condition she doesn't know much about, Snyder does research in medical literature, medical websites, and other providers. "I read all kinds of medical literature every day," Snyder said. "It just depends on the condition for where I'd go for the research." Snyder said she is continuing learning. She reads everyday, even on things she is familiar with because of different presentations. "Not everybody presents like the book says," Snyder expressed.

Advice Snyder wants aspiring doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician's assistants to know is to follow your dream. Make sure your heart is in it because it's not always sunshine and roses. It is a little harder, but it all pays off in the end if you put effort in. "It's a continual learning experience," Snyder said. "Listen to your patients."

Snyder wants patients to know that they should "know thyself and take care of yourself. There's so much within our control that we can do to help ourselves out and most of us know the basics of what that is."